Gypsophila plant named `Magic Golan`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Gypsophila plant named Magic Golan, characterized by its pure white large flowers that are arranged in double rows; long, strong and straight stems; requirement for only a 12 to 13-hour daylength to initiate and develop flowers; yield of a large number of cut flowers; and exceptional vase life.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar ofGypsophila, botanically known as Gypsophila paniculata, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Magic Golan.

The new cultivar was developed by me in a controlled breeding program atDanziger -- "Dan" Flower Farm, Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, by crossing thefemale, or seed, parent identified as Gypsophila paniculata selectionDAN-8617 with the male, or pollen, parent identified as Gypsophilapaniculata selection DAN-8952. Both parents are nonpatented selectionsdeveloped by me in a controlled breeding program and used only asbreeding parents.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken byme at Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, has shown that the combination offeatures of this new Gypsophila are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following characteristics are repeatedly observed and are determinedto be the distinctive and unique characteristics of Magic Golan. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish Magic Golan from both itsparent varieties and other cultivated Gypsophilas used in thefloriculture industry:

1. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan have pure white large flowers thatare arranged in double rows.

2. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan produce long, strong and straightstems.

3. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan only require a 12 to 13-hourdaylength to initiate and develop flowers.

4. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan yield a large number of cutflowers.

5. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan produce fresh cut flowering stemsthat have exceptional vase life.

The new cultivar is most similar to the cultivar Magic Gilboa which wasdeveloped by me in a controlled breeding program at Danziger -- "Dan"Flower Farm, Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Magic Golan differs from MagicGilboa in the following traits:

1. Leaves of plants of the cultivar Magic Golan are longer and widerthan leaves of plants of the cultivar Magic Gilboa.

2. Stems of plants of the cultivar Magic Golan are longer, larger indiameter, heavier in fresh weight, and have longer internodes than stemsof plants of the cultivar Magic Gilboa.

3. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan produce fewer lateral stems perplant compared to plants of the cultivar Magic Gilboa.

4. Flowers of plants of the cultivar Magic Golan are larger, have morepetals, and are faster to develop and open than flowers of the cultivarMagic Gilboa.

5. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan produce fewer flowers per lateralstem compared to plants of the cultivar Magic Gilboa.

In comparison, plants of the cultivar Magic Golan are taller, more openin plant form, and less floriferous than plants of the cultivar MagicGilboa which are shorter, denser in plant form, and more floriferous.

The new cultivar is also similar to the nonpatented Gypsophilapaniculata cultivar Bristol Fairy in flower color. Magic Golan differsfrom Bristol Fairy in the following traits:

1. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan have larger flowers than plants ofthe cultivar Bristol Fairy. Flowers are 2 mm larger in diameter onplants of Magic Golan compared to plants of Bristol Fairy.

2. Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan produce longer stems than plantsof the cultivar Bristol Fairy. Stems are straighter and stronger onplants of Magic Golan compared to stems of plants of Bristol Fairy.

3. Leaves and stems of plants of the cultivar Magic Golan are moreglabrous and glaucous than leaves and stems of plants of the cultivarBristol Fairy.

4. Plants of Gypsophila paniculata usually initiate and develop flowerswhen the length of the day is longer than the length of the night.Plants of the cultivar Magic Golan will initiate and develop flowerswhen the length of the day is 12 to 13 hours, whereas plants of thecultivar Bristol Fairy require 16 hours for flower initiation anddevelopment.

5. The number of harvestable flowering stems of plants of the cultivarMagic Golan is twenty percent greater than the number of harvestableflowering stems of plants of the cultivar Bristol Fairy during times ofhigh production that is, from late spring to fall in the NorthernHemisphere.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand flower color of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as itis reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.The first photograph (FIG. 1) constitutes a typical harvested stem ofMagic Golan. The second photograph (FIG. 2) is a close-up of anindividual flower of Magic Golan.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Mishmar Hashiva,Isreal, under normal commercial practice in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse with minimum night temperatures of 16° C. and maximum daytemperatrues of 20° to 30° C. during the summer. Magic Golan has notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary significantly with variations in environment such astemperature, light intensity and daylength.

Botanical classification:

Gypsophila paniculata cultivar Magic Golan.

Commercial use:

Fresh or dried cut flower.

Parentage:

Female (seed) parent.--Gypsophila paniculata selection DAN-8617.

Male (pollen) parent.--Gypsophila paniculata selection DAN-8952.

Propagation:

A. Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

B. Time to initiate roots.--10 days at 25° C.; 15 days at 20° C.

C. Rooting habit.--Fibrous and well-branched

PLANT DESCRIPTION:

A. General appearance.--Spreading and robust, diffusely branchedperennial, lateral stems harvested as fresh or dried cut flowers,flowers arranged in panicles.

B. Foliage description.--1. Leaf shape: Linear-lanceolate with acutetip. 2. Leaf size a. Maximum length: 12 cm. b. Maximum width 1.7 cm. 3.Leaf texture: Glabrous and glaucous. 4. Leaf margin: Entire. 5. Color:Young foliage, upper surface: 147A. Young foliage, under surface: 137A.Mature foliage, upper surface: 147A. Mature foliage, under surface:137A. 6. Venation: Parallel.

C. Lateral stem description.--1. Internode length: On average 5 cm. 2.Color: 147A to 147B. 3. Quantity (yield): 8 to 10 lateral stems perplant. 4. Texture: Glabrous and glaucous. 5. Length: 1 to 1.2 m. 6.Diameter: 7 to 8 mm. 7. Fresh weight: 35 to 45 g. 8. Strength: Verystrong and solid.

Flowering description:

A. Flowering habit.--Freely flowering.

B. Natural flowering season.--In the Northern Hemisphere, floweringoccurs from spring until fall or under long day conditions. In Isrealduring the summer, plants flower 6 weeks after planting; and duringwinter, plants flower 12 weeks after planting.

C. Flowers borne.--Flowers arranged in a loose panicle.

D. Quantity of inflorescences.--Very floriferous; usually 1500 to 1800flowers per lateral stem.

E. Flower opening rate.--From flower bud formation, flowers are fullyopen after 10 to 12 days depending on temperature and light intensity.

F. Cut flower longevity.--At least 3 weeks.

G. Flower size.--9 to 10 mm in diameter.

H. Petals.--1. Shape: Semi-circular with toothed abaxial margin. 2.Size: a. Height: 3.5 mm. b. Width: 4 mm. 3. Quantity: 50 per flowerarranged in double rows. 4. Color: a. When opening: 155D. b. Uppersurface: 155D. C. Under surface: 155D. d. Fading to: 155A.

I. Flower bud.--1. Shape: Round. 2. Color: 139D.

J. Reproductive organs.--1. Androecium: a. Stamen number: 10. b. Anthershape: Filamentous. c. Anther color: 155D. d. Pollen color: 155D. 2.Gynoecium: a. Stigma color: 144A. b. Style number: 2. c. Style color:144C. d. Ovary: 5-celled. e. Ovary color: 144C. f. Ovary size: 1 to 2mm.

Disease resistance: No fungal or bacterial problems observed.

Seed development: Seed production is very rarely observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gypsophila plant named MagicGolan, as illustrated and described.